I am researching Alphonse Joseph DeGeeter who came to America in 1885 from Flanders. His father was Bruno DeGeeter.

Family lore is that they came from the town of Vitkerke. I can't find it on a map, although I find several towns in West Flanders all ending in kerke. I question if the town name is right. Can anyone translate what "vit kerke" means in Flemish?

Hello, I am Rita Degeeter from Antwerp, i have also family coming from the flanders. Vitkerke does not exists in Belgium but you can try to find Wittekerke. Maybe its the place you mean. I wish you luck in finding what you search for
I am a part of a large family maybe we have the same ancesters.
Lovely greatings
Rita

Rita, thank you. In Flemish, is the W pronounced like a V in English? I suspect Alphonse DeGeeter came from the area around Maldagem and Eckloo, but have no facts to confirm that. Thanks again.

Hello John,

I'm practically sure that the town you're looking for is Uitkerke, a small village in West-Flanders, not so far away from Brugge.

Herman Declerck
http://www.geocities.com/pervijze

where is Alphonse Joseph Degeeter now, i mean, in what state, what city ?
b 02 Feb 1864
d 18 Jan 1942

Alphonse Joseph DeGeeter died in Aurora IL and is buried in Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa. He immigrated in 1885 and lived in Iowa from 1895 (possibly earlier) to about 1937 when he moved to Aurora to live with his daughter. I have determined that Vitkerke is most likely Uitkerke, a town just down the coast from Zeebruge, Belgium. A check of the town records revealed several DeGeeters, but no Alphonse

death certificate states place of birth as France as per C J Degeeter.
my grandmother was Matilda Mary (Theresa) Degeeter.

1900 Census has him in Black Hawk Co Iowa & says he and his parents were born in Belgium.

Can't find him in the 1910 census.

1920 census has him in Mitchell Co Iowa & says he and his parents were born in Belgium. It also lists his native language as Frisian (same for parents). A little research finds Friesland was once a nation in what we know as northern Holland, NW Germany, & Denmark. A Friesland web-site says most people speak either Frisian or Dutch.

1930 census still has him in Mitchell Co Iowa & says he and his parents were born in Belgium. It says his native language is Flemish.

Census also indicates he immigrated in 1885 and was naturalized in 1891. However, I have not found any trace of him before 1895. By then he was in Iowa.

My wife is Ruth DeGeeter, grand-daughter of Alphonse (Screal & Victoria Degeeter).

Ruth Elizabeth Degeeter b. 1949

i was going by whats on the death certif. as per C J Degeeter

C J Degeeter must be Clarence J. Degeeter, son of Alphonse Joseph Degeeter.

nobody else knows, or talks about Alphonse Joseph Degeeter or his family.

have not talked to anyone for 2-3 years about Alphonse Joseph Degeeter or family

would you share ????

you in Iowa ??

i am Illinois